I've never been to India, I'd love to go to India one day. The women are beautiful, the culture is very interesting, the food is amazing, lots of vegetarian options (I'm a pescatarian [http://vegetarian.about.com/od/glossary/g/Pescatarian.htm]). My best friend and his family are from India. I'm not sure the city name, I know it's in the south, and not very large. I've got to see what it's called.

I lived in New Delhi from 2004-2006, visited again at Christmas 2006, and am living here again, from May-August. While living here for 2 years, I visited Goa, Kerala, Agra, Mussoorrie, Varanasi, Rishikesh, and spent 2 weeks travelling around Rajasthan. My mum also visited Bangalore, Calcutta, Mumbai, and many other smaller towns throughout the country. When we were back last Christmas, we were back in Delhi and also in Hyderabad. This time we've only been in Delhi.

I guess, as you can tell, we both absolutely love it here. Like Mel said, each region is so different, in terms of cuisine, culture, religion, even architecture. Amazing. Of course there are many problems, such as poverty etc. but you get used to them. We're here for another 16 days before returning to Australia, but hopefully it won't be our last time here.

I've been to India 3 times, as I'm Indian, and still have many relatives over there.

First time was in 1990....won't comment on that trip Mel

Went back in 1996 - went to Bangalore, Bombay, and Pune.

Most recent trip was in 2000 - just my older brother and I, which was cool. Hit Bombay, Bangalore, and Pune again, but this time, we also swung by Delhi briefly, and also went to Agra.

Funny thing - my grandmother, who lived in India from 1918 through 1982, has never seen the Taj Mahal. I've only been there for a sum total of 10 weeks, and I've seen it.

My overall impression of India is mixed. Even though I have plenty of family there, I'm still somewhat of a tourist too. I do love seeing the historical sites (Taj Mahal, the forts, Belur, Hallebid, Ellora Caves, etc. (pardon my spelling...)). And I've generally found the people very courteous and helpful, as I would have expected. At the same time, I don't think I could see myself living there. It would take me a long, long time to adjust to the differences in culture.

It's quite interesting seeing the Western influence on culture, and especially on some of my relatives in my generation. Some of them are quite "traditional", while others are much more "Westernized". I also really can't stand arranged marriages, and it bugs me somehow that some of my cousins continue to have them. But to each his/her own, I guess.

I went to India last July, and I have decided I could definitely live there. The people are very kind, the culture is amazing, and the food is incredible.

I stayed overnight in Delhi then went to Andhra Pradesh, visiting numerous villages as well as the cities of Khammam, Vijayawada, and Hyderabad.

Allthough the sights, smells, and sounds are entirely different from the USA, I felt right at home. I learned to overlook the refuse-lined streets and watch the people and their daily lives. It was a great oppurtunity to see how varied the cultures of this globe are. I had been to Haiti, Mexico, , the Dominican Republic, and Honduras before going to India, so I knew what to expect in a third-world country. However, the cities are downright amazing...the tech centers and offices are springing up practically overnight. And I loved the countryside. Everyone would stare at my white skin, then smile and wave. And the food! Chipati, dal, mutton curry, chicken curry, fish curry, egg curry, peanut chutney....it's all so good! By the way, water buffalo milk is the greatest thing! I miss that so much. I am dying to go back, and it looks like I might be able to next summer! I inserted a few pictures from my trip to show a few cultural highlights: (for some reason they turned out small)

I was in Kolkata back in late 2005. I had a great time and enjoyed my stay. Most people spoke English, were very friendly. Most went out of their way to show me their shops, offer me tea and snacks, along with helpful hints of things to see. TI'll go back next year and get to a few other sites, probably Darjeeling and see the tea fields.

I was there in late November so temperature wise it was great. If I'd been there about a month or so earlier I'm sure I'd have suffered from the heat and humidity.

The only real issues I came upon was the poverty, yes ifs there big time. I know all cities in the world have it, just seemed worse there. The other issue was the rad system. I don't know how people there deal with it. That is an area that has to be fixed for India to continue to grow.

The notes below are remembered with the fog of 12.5 hours of jet lag.
I enjoyed the food, top notch and spicy, especially the chicken biryani I ate with my hand off of a leaf! People were great, very cordial. Very cordial considering how congested the roads were. You had on the roads: scooters, motorcycles, cows, oxen, oxen pulling carts, buses, cars, heavy duty trucks, people, people on bicycles and it's not the horn use that was excessive but man, it got old quick. Factor in a complete lack of emissions equipment on vehicles and you had a cloud of smoke above every road I traveled (crawled on) on. Especially the 33 mile drive to Palace Mysore (beautiful un-restored site) that took 3 hours each way. I was very thankful we had a driver even though we got into two low speed accidents.

Quoting Aerobalance (Reply 11):You had on the roads: scooters, motorcycles, cows, oxen, oxen pulling carts, buses, cars, heavy duty trucks, people, people on bicycles and it's not the horn use that was excessive but man, it got old quick.

The Best part is no one moves the Bulls & Cows & every vehicle tends to avoid them.
regds
MEL

I spent a month there on business back in 2004 and had a good time in Bangalore, Delhi, and Agra. When people ask if I want to go back I answer it this way. I would love to and see so much more of the country but if I don't get back it isn't going to kill me. You take the good and the bad and they balance each other out. Though I will say going there isn't for the folks accustomed to clean living or getting places on time.

One thing I never want to hear folks in the US complain about again is being poor. We have our problems for sure but the poor in India don't have TVs, microwaves, and cars. I enjoyed getting out and seeing the sites on my off days and will say that the Taj Mahal is very impressive. When you first round the outer buildings and can see it framed through the red sandstone gatehouse it takes your breath away. Visiting so many other sites I can't even remember all the names right now was impressive as well when you think of how long they have been there.

"If you can't delight in the misery of others then you don't deserve to be a college football fan."

I've only been the once and that was only to Mumbai. I thought it was great.

Yes there was grinding poverty with people living on the street or under plastic and cardboard shelters, but there was also a lot of friendliness. If there were that much poverty here in NZ, it would not be safe to walk the street as locals would be out to mug you. In India I felt fine, even when the beggers were tapping me to ask for food.

The sights were great. I was very impressed by Ghandi's Mumbai house (museum now) and places such as Chowpati Beach, Gateway to India, street markets. Even the railway stations such as Victoria were impressive.

I would go back in a heartbeat. India is such a vast country though that I would have to set aside a lot of time to give the place any justice. I know people who have travelled there for one to two months and still only seen a handful of states.

By the way, the approach to BOM has to be one of the most stunning, the way you come down over the roofs of the houses which are so close to the end of the runway. I was wondering where the airport was as we barely cleared the houses closest to the threshold by 100 feet. Saw some interesting sights there too, such as a Syrian 747SP taxiing out as we were taxiing in pity I did not have my camera

Haven't been there, but I have 3 (unrelated) friends who all went there for a number of weeks and all of them fell ill at some point. In Holland people generally say: If you go to India, you will get the sh!ts at some point.
Another very annoying thing (they said) is the fact you are constantly followed by people trying to sell you stuff. It takes about a week to learn how to deal with those people (and make them actually go away).

Everyone who goes there loves the experience though, because it's so different... Nothing like a beach holiday in Thailand. India is adventure for travellers. Dodgy hotels with cockroaches, dead people floating in the Ganges at Varanasi, the heat, the vast amounts of people, etc, etc...

25 HAWK21M
: Food if not used to can be a problem. Water.....preferred to use packaged water. Not sure about the cockroaches,they probably went to a lower grade ho

26 BAPILOT2B
: Amazing how the Delhi Belly covers the whole of India with those kind of symptoms.

27 IL76
: People who get cremated in Varanasi have their ashes are thrown into the river to have good luck in their next life. But some less fortunate people h

28 HAWK21M
: Agreed on the Dirty water.But floating people is a surprise. regds MEL

29 DeltaGator
: It wasn't so much the scoots that I had but when it was time to let loose a deuce you had better find a bathroom quickly. One minute you're fine and

30 Ag92
: Being born and brought up in Singapore, some could possibly state that I am a 'visitor' in India. My personal experiences have been amazing, although

31 TRVYYZ
: That is NOT normal in "India" or atleast not normal in the state where I come from.